Catching device for well tubing



armies May 17, 1927.

STEPHEN v, mLLoN, or TULsA, OKLAHOMA.

CATGHING- DEVICE FOR WELL TUBING.

Application filed January 19, 1327. Serial No. 162,044.

l matically catching and supporting a tubing string in case there is breakage of the string above the catcher, and also adapted to be j set by the operator at any desired point in tubing.

Fig. 1.

the well.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a tubing catcher which may be lowered with the tubing and anchored at a desired elevation, such catcher being constructed-to permit the tubing to reciprocate therein during pumping or the like.

A still further object is to provide automatic means for setting ,the catcher, adapted to be actuated by combined gas pressure and friction forces.

Another object is to" ,furdish a tubing catcher having a slip assembly including a pivoted vane or vanes adapted'in case of a breakage of the string, to increase its sustaining area horizontally under the inliuence.

of gas pressurein Vthe well, and to scrape along the inner surface of the well casing for actuating the slips which anchor the catcher in the well. i

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the, description proceeds, the invention consists of the novel features hereinafter described .in detail, illustrated in the accompanying-drawing and more particularly pointed outv in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Y

Fig". 1 is aside elevation of one form of my invention-shownvin the position which it occupies While descending-a well with the 2 is a perspective view of `the .vane

Fig.

a detail ofthe structure shown .in

:forming Fig. 3 is means.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view-of e vane' used withjthe structure shown 3.

, In the drawing, 1 designates of" tubing'while descending in a well casing 42.

and 'sup-- Ports We'dgesleev? 4 Whih 1S. Slidably l. Springs 20whicl1alwaysbearagainsttliet A collar 3 is fixedA oli the tubin a view similar-to Fig.. 1, ofthe-f2 lower portion of my device provided with `a different form of vane or ret-ar mounted on the tubing. This wedge sleeve forms a weight member and it is tapered downwardly as illustrated in the drawing. Fingers 5 project from the wedge sleeve and function as guides for the stems 6 of slips .7. Only one slip and stem is shown, but 1t is to be Vunderstood that a similar slip .and stem is arranged at the rear side of the wedge block.

Each stem is pivotally connected at its 'lower end to a pivot pin 8 carried by ears t) projecting from a guide sleeve 10, which '1s also sl'idably mounted on the tubing between the collar 3 and a pin 11; the latter projecting radially from. the tubing. The sleeve 10 rests on the pin 11 while the tubing catcher is being lowered with the string. A vane or gas pressure actuated device 12 is pivotally, mounted on the guide-sleeve 10. The member 12 consists of a ring 13-hav ing a circular edge 14 and an elliptical openi ving orslot 15.. Ears lG'project from the ring -13 and are provided with elongated slots 17 which engage pins 18 projecting from the sleevelO. While the tubing catolier is descending with the tubing, the ring 13 will assume the position'shown in-Fig,

1, due to the fact that the ears' 16 are" slightly offset relatively to one diameter of the rin 13. Consequently, air or gas in the wel? casing will pass betweenI the edge of the ring 13, and the casing, while-the catcher is slowly descending with` the tub- 1ng.

If, however, the tubingehu1d-si1dden1y drop, the air or other fluid pressure in the casing will tend to move the Irn'g -'13 into a horizontal position', and the ring will 'then retard the downward movement of the."

slip assembly. When the ring 13 moves into a horizontal position, its edge 14 will frictionally engage the casing and this friction action combined with the fluid pressure below the ring 1,3, will q 'ckly iretard te o downward movement of the slip assembly .suclr an extent that the wedge sleeve 4'will move downwardly -relatively to the sleeve 10 and cause the slips 7 to expand andgrip the casing. f s' My improved ciatchr'also -means to permit-the catcher tobeset. by theoperator at'any desired elevation in the well.- This means consistsof a sleeveV 19 in which the tubing may turn or slide. 1Vv The' sleeve Y. is provided with bowedffriction casing under suflicient pressure to hold the sleeve 19 stationary at any desired point;

The sleeve 19 is provided with a vertical slot 21 merging at its upper end into a horizontal notch 22, in which the pin l1 rests while the catcher is lowering in the Well.

When the tubing is descending and the operator desires to set the catcher at a certain elevation. he 'turns the tubing from the top of the well soas to move the pin 1.1 into the slot 21. While this movement is taking place, the springs 20 will prevent the sleeve 19 from turning with the tubing. When the pin 11 reaches the slot 21, the .tubing is lowered, and this permits the tubular guide to rest on the sleeve 19 while the wedge block 4 descends with the tubing, to expand the slips 7 and latch the device in position.

lVhen it is desired to release the catcher, the tubing is raised .until the collar 3 raises the wedge block 4. This will release the slips, and when the pin 11 reaches the lower end ofthe tubular guide 10, ity will lift the latter with the tubing. The sleeve 19 will then be carried along by a lower collar 28.

While the device is being thus raised, if a breakage occurs in the tubing string,the springs 20 will immediately halt the downward movement of the sleeve 19, andthe pin 11 will again descend in the slot 21. The tubular guide 10 Will strike the upper end of the sleeve 19, and the slip assem 1 will thus be halted while the wedge bloc 4 continues to descend and agairn expands the slip 7 into locking sition.

The device shown in igs. 3 and 4, differs from the embodiment in Figs. 1 and 2, only in the employment of a different type of vane or pressure actuated ring. The ring 12, in this instance, is formed of an invertl ed cup provided by two sections 24 having elongated slots 25 through which pins 26 extend. These pins project from the tubular.

guide 10a. The edge 27 of the ring is so shaped as to assume ia substantially circular' form' when the sections-,are in the dotted line position in Fig. 3. The top 28 of the ring is provided with an elliptical s lot 29 to receive the tubular guide 10, and when the sections move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, the slot 29Will assume a substantially circular form, so that s its edge will engage the periphery of the tubular guide 10a.

The vane 12a in this form of the invention will achieve the same result as. the vane 12 in Figs. 1 and 2, but will, of course, operate a. little different-ly.' 'The vane 12a tends to f form a sort of parachute. due to Huid pressure beneath the same when the catcher de- I .A scends atl arelativelyl fast rate of speed.

v"""""'".I'he vanes12'and 12a ma be made of metal, rubber, libre oranysuitable material adaptedrfor purpose. If the ring 12 is made of rubber, or some otherv suitable y Imounted on the tubing and including a wedge block, a slip assembly and means for retalding thc downward movement of the slip assembly when the latter descends in the well beyond a. predetermined speed, said retarding means normally assuming a position in which it is out of contact with the wall of thewell and functioning under the influence of iuid pressure, and being partially retarded byfriction exerted by contact with the wall of the Well upon an abrupt drop of thetube. y

2. The combination with aL Well having tubing arranged therein,of a tubing catcher including av wedge block, a slip assembly and retarding means for the latter,.said retarding means normally assuming a position in which it is out of contact with the wall of thewell andincluding an element operated by fluid pressure to retard'the downward4 movement of the slip assembly, and adapted to engage the wall of the wellV to set up .frictional resistance tending to retard the descent of the slip assembly.

3. The combination with' a well having tubing arranged therein, of 4a tubing catcher mounted on the vtubing and comprising a wedge block, a slip assembly and retarding means for the latter, said Wedge block being adapted to expand the slips ofthe slip assembly into gripping engagement with the wall of the well, and said retarding means including an element normally lying out of contact with the Wall of the well and operating under fluid pressure in the Well when the slip assembly descends too rapidly, said retarding means at such time, engaging the wall of the Well to exertfrictional resistance to the descent of the slip assembly.

4. The combination-with a well having tubing therein, of a 'tubing catcher mounted on the tubing and includin a slip assembly, a wedge block and retarding means, sa1d wedge block adapted to expand the slips of said assembly into gripping engagement with the walll of the well, and saidretarding means comprising a ring normally lying lout ot contact with the wall of the well and functloningpupon tool rapid descent of the "slip assembly to increase itssustaining area in a horizontal direction under Huid pressure within theV well, and to contact `with the wallo-f the'wellto 'exert frictional resistanceto the descent'of the slip assembly.

5. A combination as'claimed in claim 4, in which 'the rin is 'of inverted cup formation and pivotal y mounted on the slip asv sembly.

6. A combination as'claimed in claim 4,

'in which the ring is of inverted cup formation and radially split to provide a plurality of pivotally lconnected sections.

7. A combination'as claimed in claim 4,

f in which the` ring is pivotally connected to the slip assembly, said pivotal connection permitting the ring to reciprocate from side toside.A

8. The'combination with a well casing hav- -ingtubing therein, of a tubing" catcher mounted on the tubing and comprising 4a wedge block, a slip assembly, and luid pressure 'actuated retarding means for .the slip assembly, said means normally lying out of contact with the wall of the well and adapted, upon too rapid descent of the 'slip as- Y sembly, to exertpfriction on the` wall of the casing and retard the descent of the slip assembly, and meansA to permit the operator to set the catcher at any desired elevation in the well. Y

,- 9. The combination with a well and tubfing arranged therein, of a tubing catcher mounted. on the tubing and comprising a slipassembly,a wedge block and fluid pressure operated retarding means for the slip `assembl said lretardimg;n mean normally lying o ut of cnntact with the wall of the well v andbeing adapted, upon too 'rapid descent of the slip assembly, to substantially prevent `liuid in the well from passing between the retarding means `and the "wallofithe Well, and also frictionally engaging the wall `ing, a sleeve slidably mounted on the tubing `and normally rest-ing on the pin, gripping slips connected to the sleeve, engaging the' wedge block and adapted to be moved by the latter into engagement with the wall of the Well, a retarding ring pivotally mounted on "fsaid sleeve and normally lying in spaced position relatively to the Wall of the casing, said retarding ring functioning upon too rapid descent of said sleeve to increase its sustaining area in a horizontal direction under fluid pressure Within the well, and to contact with the wall of the Well to exert frictional resistance toV the descent of tht slip assembly, a second .sleeve slidably mountedupon the tubing and having downwardly extending slot merging into a substantially horizontal notch, said pin projecting into the notch and normally preventing the second sleeveifrom moving upwardly on `the tubing, and adapted when the tubing is turned, to enter said slot, and springsvconnected to the second sleeve and engaging the wall of the well for preventing said sleeve from turning, thedirst sleeve, when the pin v `moves downwardly insaid slot, resting on the second sleeve land preventing the slips from descending while the wedge block expands said slips.

' In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

- STEPHEN V. DILLON. 

